Do you remember what Apple included in the iPhone box with the first-generation iPhone? Of course, the iPhone itself was there, but it also came with a stereo headset that allowed you to control calls, music, and videos with a squeeze. The box included the iconic 30-pin USB-A cable, a charging brick, and even a dock. Yes, the original iPhone came with a simple charging dock, along with some stickers and a cleaning cloth.
Before the iPhone 12 launched in 2020, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TF International made a bold prediction: Apple would stop including EarPods and the charging brick. This move, meant to let customers buy those accessories separately, reportedly saved Apple $6.5 billion by March 2022. And Apple has now repeated the action.
Table of Contents
Apple removed the sticker from the iPhone box
If you purchase an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro, there’s one thing missing from the box: Apple stickers
According to an internal communication seen by 9to5Mac and distributed to Apple Store staff, the stickers are no longer available, just like the charging bricks and EarPods that came before them. Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 16 will no longer include Apple stickers in the iPhone box. However, buyers can still request them if they want.
You may ask for an Apple sticker at the register if you buy an iPhone 16 from an Apple Store. They are not available from third-party carriers or stores, and if you purchase the iPhone 16 for home delivery, they will not be included.
Apple’s Push for Sustainability: iPhone Ditches Stickers and Plastic Packaging
These changes are part of Apple’s ongoing efforts to achieve its environmental goals and become carbon neutral by 2030. Apple stressed this year that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro’s packaging is made completely of fiber, bringing the company one step closer to its goal of doing away with plastic entirely by the next year.
While it may feel like the end of an era, it’s not entirely unexpected. When the Apple Vision Pro launched in February, customers noticed the absence of stickers. The new iPad Pro and iPad Air, released in May, also came without stickers in the box.
Public Opinion on Apple’s Decision to Remove Stickers from iPhone Boxes
Back in May, John Gruber ran a poll on ‘X’ to gauge public opinion on the end of stickers in the iPhone box. The results? 62.5% agreed with Apple, saying it was time to stop wasting materials on the stickers, while 37.5% disagreed. After all, when you’ve just spent $800 to $1,200 on a new phone, who really cares about a sticker that probably costs Apple less than five cents to make? Personally, I’d rather see Apple put the charging brick back in the box than toss in a couple of stickers.
You May Also Like: iPhone 16 finally launched by Apple! Here’s what you need to know about.
